Microsoft has opened its app store for submissions built with the upcoming, overhauled version of Windows Phone, called "Mango."

In June Microsoft unveiled Windows Phone 7.5, aka "Mango," the new mobile operating system's first and biggest revamp that adds over 500 features. See PCMag's preview of Mango and the slideshow below for more.

"Today we will begin accepting and certifying Mango apps through the App Hub," wrote Todd Brix, Senior Director, Windows Phone Division, in a Tuesday blog post. "This means that new and existing titles optimized for Mango features like fast app switching, background audio, multiple and double sided Live Tiles, better Search integration and more will begin publishing in a matter of days."

Existing Windows Phone apps, all 30,000 of them, will also run on Mango.

Microsoft also launched the final release candidate (RC) for the Windows Phone Software Development Kit (SDK) 7.1, which lets software developers create and publish applications to the Windows Phone Marketplace.

Brix encouraged developers to submit apps to the App Hub developer portal "now" to be considered in the first wave of Mango apps available when Mango devices launch this fall.

As announced in July, the Windows Phone Marketplace will expand to 19 new markets: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, India, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden and Taiwan. Furthermore, Microsoft added seven more countries where developers can make app submissions: Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Israel, South Africa and South Korea. Support in China is expected in early Fall, followed by India.

Sara Yin is a junior analyst in the Software, Internet, and Networking group at PCmag.com, pouring most of her energy into app testing and security matters at Security Watch with Neil Rubenking. She lies awake at night pondering the state of mobile security (half-true).
Prior to joining PCMag.com, Sara spent five years reporting for publications in New York City (Huffington Post), Hong Kong (South China Morning Post), and Singapore (Campaign Asia, Men's Health).
Follow her on Twitter at @SecurityWatch and @sarapyin, or contact her the...
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